Part of life is confronting fear now and then. Whether it is a poor health diagnosis, a turbulent flight, a car accident, speaking in public, a home invasion or even a scary amusement park ride, we’ve all experienced the sweaty, jittery, heart pounding experience. Fight or flight over takes us and makes us feel like we want to jump out of our skin. Fear can benefit us in some ways. It gives us the energy to react to a situation, however it can also be paralyzing keeping us from living life fully. Fear can also make us feel out of control of our situation or environment. I can remember a particular experience in my life. My husband and I were on a group motorcycle ride with friends. I was the passenger on my husband’s bike. We were enjoying a beautiful sunny day riding the side roads in the Rainbow and De Luz Canyon area. It was getting dark and we all decided to take the quicker route home on the Highway. We prayed together for protection prior to starting off. However, when we hit the highway I was suddenly afraid. Visions of people flying off the bikes entered my mind. I couldn’t shake the fear that one or all of us were going to get in a terrible accident. I started praying, asking God to protect us. Then the thought entered my mind, we prayed before we started off, why am I doubting the result of prayer? Isn’t the opposite of faith fear? So I decided in that moment I was going to chose faith over fear and the fear left me. I was able then to enjoy the ride home. Fear robs us of the joy we can experience. While teaching swim lessons to little children I notice this often. Children will let their fear of the water rob them of the joy of swimming. It’s not until they overcome their fear that can experience the joy. Overcoming fear of any situation isn’t always easy, but living in fear is simply not living. Even with a poor health diagnosis, we are faced with the question, “Are we going to let our diagnosis overcome us with fear or empower us to research and do something to hopefully change the course?”
Recognize fear in the moment you are experiencing it, acknowledge it “I’m afraid of falling off the bike”, examine your fear to see if it’s real. What are the odds of this happening? Most of the time we don’t have a lot of control if or when anything happens . Aside from being careful and not living a careless life, all we can do pray. There are various bible verses that emphasize prayer.

Philippians 4:6- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Mark 11:24- Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Romans 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Colossians 4:2- Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
1 Thessalonians 15:16-18- Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Likewise, there are many bible verses about fear.

Deuteronomy 31:6- Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Isaiah 41:10- So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 23:4- Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Psalm 23:4- Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 27:1- The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 46:1-3 -God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Matthew 10:28- And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:29-31- Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Luke 14:27- “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:1 -Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.
Hebrews 13:5-6- Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
​Philippians 4:6-7- Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:7- For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
1 John 4:18- There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Remember these verses and rest in them, knowing that even though situations may provoke fear and we may feel as if we’re out of control, God is completely in control!
Keep the faith and be blessed!
~Teri Storm